Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg is looking forward to returning to Singapore for next weekend’s grand prix in the only night race of the season.

Starting at 10pm local time, Singapore hosted the first ever night race in Formula One in 2008, with Abu Dhabi following suit by holding a ‘twilight’ race (start at dusk, end in the dark) in 2009. The novelty of the event has failed to wear off, being a favorite for the fans and drivers racing under the lights.

“Being in the paddock when it’s dark is something quite special,” Hulkenberg said. “It’s the only total night race on the calendar and racing in a mega city like Singapore is unique. It’s a huge hub in many respects, financially and also with the airport being such a vital link between Asia and the rest of the world.

“To have at track like that is pretty spectacular. A mega event this large needs a lot of logistics, effort from the organizers and everybody involved to make this happen.”

The tiny country becomes the centre of the Formula One world next week in one of the sport’s biggest glamor events, rivalling the likes of Monaco and Abu Dhabi in terms of being a sheer spectacle. Hopefully, the on-track racing will reflect this as we enter the final seven rounds of the 2013 Formula One season.

It’s known as “Carburetor Day” – or in its simplest term, just “Carb Day.”

But the final day of on-track action Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before Sunday’s 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 is so much more.

Especially on NBCSN, which will have wall-to-wall live coverage starting Friday morning.

Here’s how Friday’s schedule breaks down:

11 a.m. ET: Carb Day kicks off with the final practice for Sunday’s Indy 500. The session will last one hour in length.

12 p.m. ET: We’re going racing! Strap in for coverage of the Indy Lights’ Freedom 100 on the famous Brickyard.

1:30 p.m. ET: We’ll have coverage of the annual IndyCar Pit Stop Challenge. Which teams have the best – and most importantly, fastest and accurate – pit crews? Team Penske has won 10 of the last 12, including the last two years edging out Schmidt Peterson Motorsports each time. Who can potentially beat them this year?

1) 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi will discuss how it used to upset him when people suggested he “backed into” his big win and how he didn’t really feel vindicated until he qualified on the front row for last year’s race.
2) Defending 500 winner Takuma Sato, the first Japanese driver to ever win at Indianapolis, discusses the impact of his big win personally and professionally, particularly back in his native land.
3) An essay by Robin Miller on Stefan Wilson giving up his ride last year to allow Fernando Alonso to race for Andretti Autosport.